Volunteers Needed to Help Plant Daffodils in Ballard Park

Bulb by bulb, Newport Daffodillion is chipping away at its goal of planting a million daffodils in Newport.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the group is tackling Ballard Park with plans to pop 2,000 bulbs into the ground — and they need your help.

The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and any help would be appreciated.

Last October volunteers and professional landscapers planted 19,000 bulbs in the quarry meadow of Ballard Park. The bulbs planted on Wednesday will line the entrance off of Hazard Road. Volunteers should bring a small shovel or rake if they have it. There will also be some on hand they can use. Jan Slee and John Hirschboeck from Newport Daffodillion will auger the holes and volunteers simply need to drop the bulbs into the holes and cover them with dirt. Meet at the Hazard Road entrance.

Ballard Park celebrated its 25th birthday last week. On October 30, 1990, Carol C. Ballard donated the thirteen acre site to the City of Newport “for the enjoyment of all Newport’s residents”. Carol envisioned the site would serve as an outdoor laboratory for area students and a place where the local public could connect with nature.

Friends of Ballard Park formed in 1996 to protect, preserve and promote Ballard Park. The nonprofit organization worked with representatives from the City of Newport to clean out construction debris, burned out cars, household appliances and other materials from the park. The meadow was then regraded and sodded. A one mile trail system was introduced. Over the years Friends of Ballard Park has hosted events and field trips to encourage the public to visit Ballard Park and to deter negative activities.

For more information call 619.3377 or visit www.ballardpark.org.

PHOTO: 19,000 Daffodils Bloomed in Ballard Park last April. 2,000 more will be planted on Wednesday, November 11th and the public is encouraged to come help plant them. Photo by Jennifer Carter